The Instagram-Famous European Town You've Never Heard Of

One of the most picturesque towns in Europe has a new place both on the Monopoly game board and in the hearts of Chinese tourists.

The tiny town of Giethoorn, Holland, has a sweet secret: its 2,600 residents navigate their picturesque village solely by boat and bicycle. Nicknamed the "Venice of the Netherlands" (did you think that was Amsterdam?) Giethoorn has no roads, but three miles of canals, new bike paths, wooden arch bridges, and thatched farmhouses dating back to the 18th century.

Giethoorn's other secret is that it's one of the most visited parts of the Netherlands, its dollhouse-like scenes captured by eager photographers and Instagrammers from around the world. One nationality in particular has taken Giethoorn to heart, however; Chinese tourists flock here, and some 200,000 of the 300,000 overall Chinese visitors to Holland this year are expected to make a stop in this pastoral village.

About 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Amsterdam, Giethoorn's traditional Dutch atmosphere and general adorable-ness also attract European visitors.

Due to the town's popularity in Asia, many residents have begun taking Mandarin lessons and, as Xinhua (China's largest news agency) reports, innkeepers around town are listening to the requests of their guests, which now include making "smaller bikes to fit smaller Chinese frames," as well as offering firmer beds and noodle cookers.

Giethoorn is now so beloved that it earned a highly coveted "wild card" place on the 80th anniversary Monopoly board thanks to a fan vote. The Monopoly "world edition" game is expected to go on sale this fall, and Amsterdam is only other Dutch city featured as a property.

In winter, the frozen canals become thoroughfares for ice skaters, and the over 180 bridges drip with photogenic icicles. Despite the influx of tourism and the limelight of their Monopoly win, Giethoorn remains an auto-free zone in the old village and one of the most truly scenic destinations in Europe.